The French firm Dufour Yachts is expanding its cruiser lineup with the launch of the new Dufour 39, a model designed to meet new sailing trends and the growing demand for versatile, comfortable, and easy-to-handle boats. With a length of nearly 12 meters, this new sailboat strikes a balanced blend of performance, livability, and modularity, while maintaining the shipyard’s signature DNA of sporty yet comfortable sailing.
A naval design focused on striking a balance between performance and comfort
The new Dufour 39 was designed by naval architect Umberto Felci in collaboration with designer Luca Ardizio. The primary goal was to create a platform that offers an enjoyable sailing experience without sacrificing spacious interior and exterior areas.
The hull design features pronounced bilges, a solution that increases interior volume and improves transverse stability without compromising performance. In addition, the single rudder provides direct and precise steering response, simplifying maneuvers both at sea and in port, especially with small crews.
Thanks to its generous beam and voluminous bow, the Dufour 39 offers living spaces comparable to those of larger models, while maintaining the maneuverability typical of a mid-sized cruiser.
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One of the standout features of the new model is its modular design. Dufour has designed this sailboat as a platform that can be customized to suit the owner’s profile and the type of sailing planned.
The boat can be equipped with a configuration geared toward family cruising and ease of use—featuring a self-tacking jib and a furling mainsail—or be upgraded to a version designed for higher performance, incorporating a track-mounted genoa and a square-top mainsail trimmed directly from the cockpit.
This approach allows the boat to be adapted for both leisurely coastal cruises and more dynamic sailing, without compromising the overall ergonomics or the boat’s balance.
An open-air bathtub designed for outdoor living
The concept of life on board takes center stage on the Dufour 39. The French shipyard continues to develop its “Skylounge Cockpit” philosophy, in which the cockpit becomes a true social space that blends seamlessly with the marine environment.
The twin-wheel layout keeps the passage to the stern clear and makes maneuvering easier, while the various cockpit configurations allow the space to be quickly adapted to its intended use, whether it be cruising, anchoring, or life in port.
Among the most notable features are the “Seaside Kitchen” outdoor kitchen, the modular swim platform, the fold-down seats at the helm stations, and the option to add a hardtop. All of these elements reinforce the connection between the interior and exterior, one of the hallmarks of the shipyard’s latest models.
Bright and highly flexible interiors
Inside, the new Dufour 39 features a flexible layout and plenty of natural light thanks to its large windows.
Available in two- or three-cabin versions, the model features solutions rarely seen in boats of this length, including adaptable spaces for remote work, technical storage modules capable of accommodating a washing machine, and areas that can be configured to suit the owner’s needs, such as additional showers or storage for water sports gear.
The forward cabin particularly benefits from the space created by the new hull design, offering a level of comfort that exceeds the norm in this segment.
The Evolution of Dufour’s DNA
With the launch of the Dufour 39, the French builder continues to evolve its range toward boats capable of adapting to increasingly diverse sailing styles. In fact, this new model embodies some of the brand’s core principles: seamless movement on board, spacious outdoor areas, modularity, and a carefully crafted balance between comfort and the thrill of sailing. A design that reinforces the current market trend toward increasingly versatile mid-sized cruisers equipped for extended stays on board.
